US5387007A - Gas generator of thin-walled structure - Google Patents

Gas generator of thin-walled structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US5387007A
US5387007A US07/983,562 US98356293A US5387007A US 5387007 A US5387007 A US 5387007A US 98356293 A US98356293 A US 98356293A US 5387007 A US5387007 A US 5387007A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
combustion chamber
gas generator
top wall
housing
filter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/983,562
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English (en)
Inventor
Akihisa Ogawa
Osamu Muramatsu
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Daicel Corp
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Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd filed Critical Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd
Priority claimed from PCT/JP1992/000792 external-priority patent/WO1993000233A1/ja
Assigned to DAICEL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. reassignment DAICEL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MURAMATSU, OSAMU, OGAWA, AKIHISA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
    • B60R21/264—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic
    • B60R21/2644—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gas generator having a thin-walled structure for an expandable air bag for protecting the occupant(s) of an automobile, and more particularly to an improvement in a housing of a gas generator suitably incorporated in a steering wheel to protect a driver of a passenger car when the collision of the car occurs.
  • an air bag is a conventional safety device that is provided in a passenger car to protect a driver or passengers from an impact occurring when the car crashes. It comprises an air bag, and a gas generator for inflating the air bag in a very short period of time.
  • This gas generator has, as main constituent elements, a centrally positioned igniter in which a squib/enhancer is held, a cylindrical combustion chamber, formed so as to surround the igniter, housing gas generants therein, and a cross-sectionally rectangular filter/coolant chamber formed axially about the combustion chamber so that a gas generated in the combustion chamber passes through a filter and a coolant and flows through gas outlet ports formed in the side wall of the filter/coolant chamber and into an air bag.
  • Japanese Patent Publication-A No. 155857/1990 proposes a gas generator in which a combustion chamber is formed by a combination of a bottomed cylindrical portion of a housing body and a cover member welded to an opened part of this cylindrical portion so as to minimize the dimensions and weight of the gas generator.
  • Japanese Patent Publication-A No. 152639/1980 discloses a gas generator of a thin-walled structure formed so as to reduce the weight of a casing, in which a combustion chamber and a filter chamber are formed by a combination of a central cylinder in which an igniter is held, a cover, and an S-shaped casing. Outlet ports of the filter chamber (expansion chamber) being made in the form of slits by punching an extended portion of the casing.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a gas generator of a weight-reduced, thin-walled structure having a housing of improved strength, capable of sealing gas generants by a non-welding method, which is advantageous with respect to the manufacturing equipment required.
  • the present invention relates to a gas generator of a thin-walled structure, having a central cylindrical holder 3 in which a squib/enhancer is housed, a combustion chamber surrounding the holder and holding gas generants therein, a filter/coolant chamber formed annularly so as to surround the combustion chamber adapted to allow the entry thereinto of a gas from the combustion chamber, and gas outlet ports from said filter/coolant chamber through which the gas may enter into an air bag.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the combustion chamber 10 is formed with a combustor cup 14 having an annular top wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to a circumferential edge of a top wall of the central cylindrical holder 4 by riveting.
  • a combustor plate 16 is welded at an outer edge thereof to an inner edge portion of a longitudinal extension of the combustor cup, and the combustor plate 16 is welded at an inner edge thereof to an edge portion of the central cylindrical holder 3, so as to close the combustion chamber.
  • a diffuser 12 is provided to cover the top wall of the combustion chamber whereby a double wall for the combustion chamber is formed.
  • An extended portion of the diffuser and the flange at the outer circumference of the combustor cup form the filter/coolant chamber, a free end portion of the flange at the outer circumference of the combustor cup being welded to the inner wall of the extended portion of the diffuser.
  • the outlet ports for a gas flowing from the filter/coolant chamber are provided in the extended portion of the diffuser.
  • a circular plate constituting a diffuser is laminated on the annular top wall of the combustion cup and the top wall of the combustion chamber to form a double wall for the combustion chamber. Therefore, the combustion chamber is doubly constructed, and an advantageous effect concerning the safety of the device is obtained. Since an expansion chamber (filter/coolant chamber) is formed by a combination of an extended portion of the diffuser and a flange at the outer circumference of the combustor cup, press working can be utilized, so that this part can be produced more easily and more inexpensively than by forging.
  • a central holder has a combustor plate (cover member) which is welded thereto.
  • the outer circumferential portion of the combustor plate is welded to a longitudinal extension of the combustor cup to form a combustion chamber. Gas generants are placed in this combustion chamber. An upper end portion of the combustor cup is then bent by press working and fastened to a head portion of a central holder by riveting so as to seal the gas generants in the combustion chamber by a non-welding method.
  • the weight thereof can be reduced owing to the employment of a thin-walled structure of aluminum and the like, which can be produced by press working.
  • the gas generants can be sealed by a non-welding method. This enables an assembly line, and the equipment used, to be simplified.
  • the weight of the gas generator can be reduced, and, since press working can be employed, this gas generator can be manufactured more efficiently and more inexpensively than a gas generator manufactured by forging.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of an embodiment of the gas generator according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectioned side elevation of the gas generator according to the present invention for an air bag for protecting the occupants of an automobile.
  • This safety device is held in a steering wheel of an automobile.
  • the gas generator 2 has a central cylindrical holder 4 housing a squib/enhancer in the central portion thereof. After the squib/enhancer has been inserted in the holder 4, the lower end portion 3 of the holder is caulked (shown by a reference numeral 3) and connected to a collision sensor through conductors 5. The inner circumferential edge of an annular combustor plate (cover member) 16, which forms a bottom wall of a combustion chamber 10, is then welded to the outer circumferential edge of the lower end portion of the holder 4 at 30.
  • annular combustor plate 16 is attached to the inner circumferential portion of a longitudinal extension of unprocessed cylindrical combustor cup 14, at 32 to form the combustion chamber 10, in which a required number of disc type gas generants 13 are positioned.
  • the upper end portion of the combustor cup 14 is then bent by press working and fastened to the head portion of the central holder 4 by riveting 28 to seal the gas generants in the combustion chamber 10.
  • a disc type diffuser 12 having an extended portion 11 is laminated on the top walls of the central holder 4 and combustor cup 14 thus formed, so that this portion of the housing of the combustion chamber is doubly formed.
  • the extended portion 11 of this diffuser 12 and a flange 15 extending from the longitudinal extension of the combustor cup 14 forms a filter/coolant chamber (expansion chamber) 18 in which a filter and a coolant are provided.
  • the outer circumferential edge of the flange 15 is welded to the inner circumferential edge of the lower end portion of the downwardly suspended extended portion of the diffuser 12, at 34.
  • a combustion gas is produced from the gas generants 13 ignited by an igniter 6 in the holder 4 through the openings 7 provided in the circumferential wall of the holder.
  • the generated gas flows into the expansion chamber 18 through a plurality of communication ports 9 provided in the longitudinal extension of the combustor cup 14, and passes through a coolant 26 and a filter 20.
  • the resultant gas flows out of the gas generator through a plurality of gas outlet ports 21 and into an air bag to expand the same instantaneously.
  • a retainer 27 is provided between the coolant 26 and filter 20 so that gas flow is directed first upon the coolant 26 and then passes through the filter 20.
  • the central cylindrical holder 4, combustor plate 16, combustor cup 14 and diffuser 12 are joined to one another via annular welding seams 30, 32, 34 by electron beam welding or laser beam welding, whereas the top wall of the combustor is attached by riveting 28 to the central holder 4 after the completion of the insertion of the gas generant 13 into the combustor cup 14.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
  • Electrodes Of Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
US07/983,562 1991-06-21 1992-06-22 Gas generator of thin-walled structure Expired - Fee Related US5387007A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3-150366 1991-06-21
JP3150366A JPH04372177A (ja) 1991-06-21 1991-06-21 光起電力装置
PCT/JP1992/000792 WO1993000233A1 (fr) 1991-06-21 1992-06-22 Generateur de gaz a structure en tole mince

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5387007A true US5387007A (en) 1995-02-07

Family

ID=15495428

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/983,562 Expired - Fee Related US5387007A (en) 1991-06-21 1992-06-22 Gas generator of thin-walled structure

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US5387007A (ja)
JP (1) JPH04372177A (ja)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5482316A (en) * 1994-10-27 1996-01-09 Morton International, Inc. Air bag inflators having housings with crimp-formed joints
US5613706A (en) * 1995-12-13 1997-03-25 Morton International, Inc. Self-contained inflator pyrotechnic initiator
EP0896912A1 (en) * 1997-08-12 1999-02-17 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for air bag and air bag system
WO2000048868A1 (en) * 1999-02-16 2000-08-24 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for multi-stage air bag and air bag device
US6149192A (en) * 1998-08-11 2000-11-21 Trw Inc. Inflator having gas deflector flanges
US6336660B1 (en) * 1996-10-29 2002-01-08 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for an air bag
JP3258314B2 (ja) 2000-07-18 2002-02-18 ダイセル化学工業株式会社 多段式エアバッグ用ガス発生器及びエアバッグ装置
US6364354B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-04-02 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US20020135170A1 (en) * 2001-03-23 2002-09-26 Takata Corporation Gas generator and airbag device
US6460884B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-10-08 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US6547275B2 (en) 1998-11-30 2003-04-15 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag device
US20030222445A1 (en) * 2002-03-26 2003-12-04 Patterson Donald B. Multiple chamber dual stage inflator
EP1223086A3 (de) * 2001-01-12 2004-03-24 Wilhelm Biemold Gasgenerator, insbesondere für die Verwendung in Airbag-Systemen
US20040220655A1 (en) * 2003-03-03 2004-11-04 Sinus Rhythm Technologies, Inc. Electrical conduction block implant device
US20070046005A1 (en) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-01 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator
US20090264880A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2009-10-22 Jan Otto Solem Device, A Kit And A Method For Treatment Of Disorders In The Heart Rhythm Regulation System
US20190135222A1 (en) * 2016-05-18 2019-05-09 Daicel Corporation Gas generator

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9912290B2 (en) * 2012-06-18 2018-03-06 Sunpower Corporation High current burn-in of solar cells

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3985076A (en) * 1973-11-19 1976-10-12 Thiokol Corporation Gas generator
JPS55152639A (en) * 1979-04-14 1980-11-28 Bayern Chemie Gmbh Flugchemie Gas generator in sheet structure
FR2625961A1 (fr) * 1988-01-19 1989-07-21 Talley Automotive Prod Dispositif de retenue de securite pour occupant de vehicule
JPH02155857A (ja) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-14 Nippon Koki Kk エアバック展開用ガス発生装置
US5062367A (en) * 1988-12-05 1991-11-05 Nippon Koki, Co., Ltd. Air bag inflation gas generator
US5100174A (en) * 1990-12-18 1992-03-31 Trw, Inc. Auto ignition package for an air bag inflator
US5139280A (en) * 1989-07-05 1992-08-18 S.N.C. Livbag Cold-gas pyrotechnic generator
US5149129A (en) * 1990-02-24 1992-09-22 Bayern-Chemie Gesselschaft fur Flugchemische Antriebe mbH Gas generator

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3985076A (en) * 1973-11-19 1976-10-12 Thiokol Corporation Gas generator
JPS55152639A (en) * 1979-04-14 1980-11-28 Bayern Chemie Gmbh Flugchemie Gas generator in sheet structure
US4278638A (en) * 1979-04-14 1981-07-14 Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gmbh Gas generator construction
FR2625961A1 (fr) * 1988-01-19 1989-07-21 Talley Automotive Prod Dispositif de retenue de securite pour occupant de vehicule
JPH02155857A (ja) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-14 Nippon Koki Kk エアバック展開用ガス発生装置
US5062367A (en) * 1988-12-05 1991-11-05 Nippon Koki, Co., Ltd. Air bag inflation gas generator
US5139280A (en) * 1989-07-05 1992-08-18 S.N.C. Livbag Cold-gas pyrotechnic generator
US5149129A (en) * 1990-02-24 1992-09-22 Bayern-Chemie Gesselschaft fur Flugchemische Antriebe mbH Gas generator
US5100174A (en) * 1990-12-18 1992-03-31 Trw, Inc. Auto ignition package for an air bag inflator

Cited By (38)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5482316A (en) * 1994-10-27 1996-01-09 Morton International, Inc. Air bag inflators having housings with crimp-formed joints
US5613706A (en) * 1995-12-13 1997-03-25 Morton International, Inc. Self-contained inflator pyrotechnic initiator
EP0779187A3 (en) * 1995-12-13 1997-10-15 Morton Int Inc Autonomous pyrotechnic igniter for gas generator
US6336660B1 (en) * 1996-10-29 2002-01-08 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for an air bag
EP0896912A1 (en) * 1997-08-12 1999-02-17 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for air bag and air bag system
US6129381A (en) * 1997-08-12 2000-10-10 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas Generator for air bag and air bag system
US6231080B1 (en) 1997-08-12 2001-05-15 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for air bag and air bag system
US6334245B2 (en) * 1997-08-12 2002-01-01 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Method of making gas generator for air bag and air bag system
US6149192A (en) * 1998-08-11 2000-11-21 Trw Inc. Inflator having gas deflector flanges
US6412815B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-07-02 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for air bag and air bag device
US6557888B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2003-05-06 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US6364354B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-04-02 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US6491320B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-12-10 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US6460884B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-10-08 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US6460883B1 (en) 1998-09-28 2002-10-08 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag apparatus
US6547275B2 (en) 1998-11-30 2003-04-15 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Air bag gas generator and air bag device
US6598901B2 (en) 1998-11-30 2003-07-29 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for air bag and air bag apparatus
US6491321B1 (en) 1999-02-16 2002-12-10 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Multistage gas generator for air bag and air bag apparatus
WO2000048868A1 (en) * 1999-02-16 2000-08-24 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for multi-stage air bag and air bag device
US6669230B1 (en) 1999-02-16 2003-12-30 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Multistage gas generator for air bag and air bag apparatus
US6722694B1 (en) 1999-02-16 2004-04-20 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator for multi-stage air bag and air bag device
JP3258314B2 (ja) 2000-07-18 2002-02-18 ダイセル化学工業株式会社 多段式エアバッグ用ガス発生器及びエアバッグ装置
EP1223086A3 (de) * 2001-01-12 2004-03-24 Wilhelm Biemold Gasgenerator, insbesondere für die Verwendung in Airbag-Systemen
JP2002283946A (ja) * 2001-03-23 2002-10-03 Takata Corp ガス発生器及びエアバッグ装置
US20020135170A1 (en) * 2001-03-23 2002-09-26 Takata Corporation Gas generator and airbag device
US6796579B2 (en) * 2001-03-23 2004-09-28 Takata Corporation Gas generator with airbag device
US20030222445A1 (en) * 2002-03-26 2003-12-04 Patterson Donald B. Multiple chamber dual stage inflator
US8409268B2 (en) 2003-03-03 2013-04-02 Syntach Ag Electrical conduction block implant device
US20100211155A1 (en) * 2003-03-03 2010-08-19 William Swanson Electrical Conduction Block Implant Device
US20040220655A1 (en) * 2003-03-03 2004-11-04 Sinus Rhythm Technologies, Inc. Electrical conduction block implant device
US8840658B2 (en) 2003-03-03 2014-09-23 Syntach Ag Electrical conduction block implant device
US20090264880A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2009-10-22 Jan Otto Solem Device, A Kit And A Method For Treatment Of Disorders In The Heart Rhythm Regulation System
US8257376B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2012-09-04 Syntach Ag Device, a kit and a method for treatment of disorders in the heart rhythm regulation system
US9295484B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2016-03-29 Syntach Ag Device, a kit and a method for treatment of disorders in the heart rhythm regulation system
US20070046005A1 (en) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-01 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator
US7578522B2 (en) * 2005-08-30 2009-08-25 Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. Gas generator
US20190135222A1 (en) * 2016-05-18 2019-05-09 Daicel Corporation Gas generator
US10875489B2 (en) * 2016-05-18 2020-12-29 Daicel Corporation Gas generator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH04372177A (ja) 1992-12-25

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